Challenges Veterans Face When Battling Substance Use Disorders

Whiskey bottle and spilled bottle of prescription drugs with a military dog tag

High Rates of United States Military Veterans Are Affected by PTSD

In 2018, we have many freedoms and privileges for which to thank members of the United States Armed Forces. We often celebrate their return home from duty and laud them for protecting our way of life, but many fail to recognize that a large portion of American veterans continue to pay a high price for years afterward.

According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, many veterans of the armed forces suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), including approximately:

  • 31 percent of Vietnam veterans
  • 10 percent of Gulf War veterans
  • 11 percent of Afghanistan veterans
  • 20 percent of Iraq war veterans

Years of war in Iraq and Afghanistan have resulted in increasingly high numbers of veterans who experience the life-changing effects of PTSD, which develops after frightening events in which there is the intense fear of physical harm. Given their high likelihood of being exposed to terrifying circumstances, people in the military are more likely than others to develop PTSD.

The Relationship Between PTSD and Substance Use Disorders

You may be witnessing the effects of PTSD if someone you love has returned from military service and is exhibiting the following symptoms:

  • Flashbacks
  • Hypervigilance
  • Negative changes in personality or mood
  • Avoidance of reminders of a traumatic event
  • Nightmares and difficulty sleeping
  • Trouble concentrating
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Being easily scared or startled

The effects of PTSD are often too intense and unbearable for many people to handle alone, leading many to self-medicate with drugs, alcohol, or both. This can lead to addiction, dependence, and all that these entail. Given the highly specific nature of veterans’ trauma and the stigma surrounding substance abuse by former service members, people who have served in the United States military require specialized, comprehensive treatment in order to make a full recovery and regain control of their lives.

Drug & Alcohol Addiction Recovery in Northern Arizona

This year, our team here at Decision Point Center celebrates veterans’ contributions to our nation’s success, and we do so by offering support, counsel, and compassionate help for veterans and their families. If someone you love has returned from military service and is displaying signs of PTSD and/or a substance use disorders, we may be able to help you connect them with the treatment they need to recover. At our Prescott drug and alcohol rehabilitation center, we understand the challenges ex-military service members and we are prepared to provide the specialized treatment your loved one needs to address their PTSD and substance issues, and we are now in-network with Tri-care insurance

Connect with us today by sending us a message or calling (844) 292-5010.

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